Computing device and method for testing charging and discharging reliability of rechargable battery

ABSTRACT

In a method for testing the charging and discharging reliability of a rechargeable battery, a test device measures the battery to obtain first terminal voltages and first electric currents when the battery is charged by a power supply. After the battery is discharged, the test device measures the battery to obtain second terminal voltages and second electronic currents. Based on the first terminal voltages and the first electric currents, a first lifecycle curve can be created. Based on the second terminal voltages and the second electric currents, a second lifecycle curve is created. The method compares the first lifecycle curve with a charging lifecycle curve, compares the second lifecycle curve with a discharging lifecycle curve, and generates a lifecycle estimation report of the rechargeable battery according to the comparison results.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to testingcomputing devices, and more particularly to a computing device and amethod for testing charging and discharging reliability of arechargeable battery.

2. Description of Related Art

Methods of testing rechargeable batteries have some disadvantages. Somemethods require the rechargeable battery to be manually measured afterthe rechargeable battery is charged or discharged by a power supply,where measured data is compared from the rechargeable battery withcritical values, to determine the lifetime of the rechargeable battery.Other methods require a particular device to test the lifetime of therechargeable battery. However, manually measurement and comparison isinefficient, and the particular device is costly. Therefore, a moreeconomical and efficient method for testing a rechargeable battery isdesired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a computing devicecommunicating with a rechargeable battery.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the computing device ofFIG. 1 including a reliability test unit.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating one embodiment of a method fortesting reliability of charging and discharging a rechargeable batteryusing the computing device of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In general, the term “module,” as used herein, refers to logic embodiedin hardware or firmware, or to a collection of software instructions,written in a programming language, such as, for example, Java, C, orassembly. One or more software instructions in the modules may beembedded in firmware, such as in an EPROM. It will be appreciated thatmodules may comprise connected logic units, such as gates andflip-flops, and may comprise programmable units, such as programmablegate arrays or processors. The modules described herein may beimplemented as either software and/or hardware modules and may be storedin any type of non-transitory computer-readable medium or other computerstorage device.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a computing device 1 fortesting a rechargeable battery 6. In the embodiment, the computingdevice 1 electronically connects to a power supply 3 via a first controlchannel 2, and electronically connects to a test device 5 via a secondcontrol channel 4. The computing device 1 includes a reliability testunit 10, which controls the power supply 3 to charge or discharge therechargeable battery 6, controls the test device 5 to measure terminalvoltages and electric currents of the rechargeable battery 6 when therechargeable battery 6 is charged and discharged, and creates lifecyclecurves of the rechargeable battery 6 based on the terminal voltages andthe electric currents. By comparing the lifecycle curves withpredetermined life curves, the reliability test unit 10 performs alifecycle estimation on the rechargeable battery 6, and displays alifecycle estimation report on a display screen 14 (shown in FIG. 2) ofthe computing device 1. Detail functions of the reliability test unit 10are described, in reference to FIG. 2, below.

FIG. 2 is block diagram of one embodiment of the computing device 1including the reliability test unit 10. In one embodiment, the computingdevice 1 may be an electronic device (e.g., a computer) that includes atleast one processor 13. The unit 10 may comprise computerized code inthe form of one or more programs that are stored in a storage system 12,and executed by the processor 13.

In one embodiment, the storage system 12 may be a magnetic or an opticalstorage system, such as a hard disk drive, an optical drive, a compactdisc, a digital video disc, a tape drive, or other suitable storagemedium.

The computing device 1 further includes a database 11, which is used forstoring the terminal voltages and the electric currents of therechargeable battery 6 measured by the test device 5.

In one embodiment, the reliability test unit 10 includes a settingmodule 100, a first measurement module 102, a second measurement module104, a curve creation module 106, a lifecycle estimation module 108, anda report module 110. Each of the modules 100-110 may be a softwareprogram including one or more computerized instructions that are storedin the storage system 12 and executed by the processor 13. The processor13 may be a central processing unit or a math coprocessor, for example.

The setting module 100 sets a first working parameter of the powersupply 3 in relation to charging of the rechargeable battery 6, and asecond working parameter of the power supply 3 in relation todischarging of the rechargeable battery 6. In detail, the first workingparameter may include a charge time, measurement times for measuring theterminal voltages and the electric currents of the rechargeable battery6, a driving voltage, a driving impedance, and a protection currentduring the charging of the rechargeable battery 6. The second workingparameter may include a discharge time, measurement times for measuringthe terminal voltages and the electric currents of the rechargeablebattery 6, a load voltage, a load impedance, and a protection currentduring the discharging of the rechargeable battery 6.

In the embodiment, the driving voltage can be adjusted, while the loadvoltage is a fixed value. The protection currents protect the powersupply 3 from damage when the power supply 3 charges or discharges therechargeable battery 6.

The first measurement module 102 controls the power supply 3 to chargethe rechargeable battery 6 according to the first working parameter,controls the test device 5 to measure the rechargeable battery 6 anumber of times when the rechargeable battery 6 is charged, and obtainsa first plurality of terminal voltages and a first plurality of electriccurrents of the rechargeable battery 6. In the embodiment, the number oftimes can be user-determined. The first measurement module 102 furtherrecords the first terminal voltages and the first electric currents inthe database 11.

The second measurement module 104 controls the power supply 3 todischarge the rechargeable battery 6 according to the second workingparameter, controls the test device 5 to measure the rechargeablebattery 6 a number of times when the rechargeable battery 6 isdischarged, and obtains a second plurality of terminal voltages and asecond plurality of electronic currents of the rechargeable battery 6.In the embodiment, the number of times can be determined according touser requirements. The second measurement module 102 further records thesecond terminal voltages and the second electric currents in thedatabase 11.

The curve creation module 106 creates a first lifecycle curve based onthe first terminal voltages and the first electric currents, and createsa second lifecycle curve based on the second terminal voltages and thesecond electric currents.

The lifecycle estimation module 108 compares the first lifecycle curvewith a predetermined charging lifecycle curve, and compares the secondlifecycle curve with a predetermined discharging lifecycle curve.

The report module 110 generates a lifecycle estimation report of therechargeable battery 6 according to the comparison results, and displaysthe lifecycle estimation report on the display screen 14.

In one embodiment, if the first lifecycle curve closely meets thecharging lifecycle curve, and the second lifecycle curve closely meetsthe discharging lifecycle curve, the report module 110 reports that therechargeable battery 6 has a long lifecycle. If the first lifecyclecurve does not closely meet the charging lifecycle curve, or the secondlifecycle curve does not closely meet the discharging lifecycle curve,the report module 110 reports that the rechargeable battery 6 has ashort lifecycle.

In the embodiment, the lifecycle estimation report 110 indicates thecharging and discharging reliability of the rechargeable battery 6.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating one embodiment of a method fortesting charging and discharging reliability of a rechargeable battery 6by using the computing device 1 of FIG. 2. Depending on the embodiment,in FIG. 3, additional blocks may be added, others removed, and theordering of the blocks may be changed.

In block S01, the setting module 100 sets a first working parameter ofthe power supply 3 in relation to charging of the rechargeable battery6, and a second working parameter of the power supply 3 in relation todischarging of the rechargeable battery 6.

In block S03, the first measurement module 102 controls the power supply3 to charge the rechargeable battery 6 according to the first workingparameter. In one embodiment, the first working parameter may include acharge time, measurement times for measuring the terminal voltages andthe electric currents of the rechargeable battery 6, a driving voltage,a driving impedance, and a protection current during the charging of therechargeable battery 6. In the embodiment, the protection currentsprotect the power supply 3 from damage when the power supply 3 chargesthe rechargeable battery 6.

In block S05, the first measurement module 102 controls the test device5 to measure the rechargeable battery 6 a number of times when therechargeable battery 6 is charged, and obtains a first plurality ofterminal voltages and a first plurality of electric currents of therechargeable battery 6. The first measurement module 102 records thefirst terminal voltages and the first electric currents in the database11.

In block S07, the second measurement module 104 controls the powersupply 3 to discharge the rechargeable battery 6 according to the secondworking parameter, controls the test device 5 to measure therechargeable battery 6 a number of times when the rechargeable battery 6is discharged, and obtains a second plurality of terminal voltages and asecond plurality of electronic currents of the rechargeable battery 6.The second measurement module 102 further records the second terminalvoltages and the second electric currents in the database 11.

In one embodiment, the second working parameter may include a dischargetime, measurement times for measuring the terminal voltages and theelectric currents of the rechargeable battery 6, a load voltage, a loadimpedance, and a protection current during the discharging of therechargeable battery 6. The load voltage is a fixed value, and cannot beadjusted.

In block S09, the curve creation module 106 creates a first lifecyclecurve based on the first terminal voltages and the first electriccurrents, and creates a second lifecycle curve based on the secondterminal voltages and the second electric currents. In the embodiment,the first lifecycle curve and the second lifecycle curve arecurrent-voltage characteristics.

In block S11, the lifecycle estimation module 108 compares the firstlifecycle curve with a predetermined charging lifecycle curve, andcompares the second lifecycle curve with a predetermined discharginglifecycle curve. If the first lifecycle curve closely meets the charginglifecycle curve, and the second lifecycle curve closely meets thedischarging lifecycle curve, block S13 is implemented. If the firstlifecycle curve does not closely meet the first predetermined criticallife curve, or the second lifecycle curve does not closely meet thesecond predetermined critical life curve, block S03 to block S11 isimplemented repeatedly till the first lifecycle curve closely meets thecharging lifecycle curve, and the second lifecycle curve closely meetsthe discharging lifecycle curve.

In block S13, the report module 110 generates a lifecycle estimationreport of the rechargeable battery 6 according to the comparisonresults, and displays the lifecycle estimation report on the displayscreen 14.

Although certain inventive embodiments of the present disclosure havebeen specifically described, the present disclosure is not to beconstrued as being limited thereto. Various changes or modifications maybe made to the present disclosure without departing from the scope andspirit of the present disclosure.

1. A computer-implemented method, the method comprising: (a) controllinga power supply to charge a rechargeable battery; (b) controlling a testdevice to measure terminal voltages and rechargeable currents of therechargeable battery when the rechargeable battery is charged, andobtaining a first plurality of terminal voltages and a first pluralityof rechargeable currents of the rechargeable battery; (c) controllingthe power supply to discharge the rechargeable battery; (d) controllingthe test device to measure terminal voltages and electronic currents ofthe rechargeable battery when the rechargeable battery is discharged,and obtaining a second plurality of terminal voltages and a secondplurality of electronic currents of the rechargeable battery; (e)creating a first lifecycle curve based on the first terminal voltagesand the first rechargeable currents, and creating a second lifecyclecurve based on the second terminal voltages and the second rechargeablecurrents; (f) comparing the first lifecycle curve with a predeterminedcharge lifecycle curve, and comparing the second lifecycle curve with apredetermined discharge lifecycle curve; and (g) generating a lifecycleestimation report of the rechargeable battery according to thecomparison results, and displaying the lifecycle estimation report on adisplay screen.
 2. The method as described in claim 1, wherein thelifecycle estimation report indicates that the rechargeable battery hasa long lifecycle upon the condition that the first lifecycle curveclosely meets the charging lifecycle curve, and the second lifecyclecurve closely meets the discharging lifecycle curve.
 3. The method asdescribed in claim 1, wherein the lifecycle estimation report indicatesthat the rechargeable battery has a short lifecycle upon the conditionthat the first lifecycle curve does not closely meet the charginglifecycle curve, or the second lifecycle curve does not closely meet thedischarging life curve.
 4. The method as described in claim 1, furthercomprising: setting a first working parameter of the power supply inrelation to charging of the rechargeable battery; and setting a secondworking parameter of the power supply in relation to discharging of therechargeable battery.
 5. The method as described in claim 4, wherein thefirst working parameter comprises a charge time, measurement times formeasuring the terminal voltages and the rechargeable currents of therechargeable battery, a driving voltage, a driving impedance, and aprotection current during the charging of the rechargeable battery. 6.The method as described in claim 4, wherein the second working parametercomprises a discharge time, measurement times for measuring the terminalvoltages and the rechargeable currents of the rechargeable battery, aload voltage, a load impedance, and a protection current during thedischarging of the rechargeable battery.
 7. A computing device,comprising: at least one processor; a storage system; and one or moremodules that are stored in the storage system and executed by the atleast one processor, the one or more modules comprising: a firstmeasurement module operable to control a test device to measure terminalvoltages and rechargeable currents of a rechargeable battery when therechargeable battery is charged by a power supply, and obtain a firstplurality of terminal voltages and a first plurality of rechargeablecurrents of the rechargeable battery; a second measurement moduleoperable to control the test device to measure terminal voltages andelectronic currents of the rechargeable battery when the rechargeablebattery is discharged over, and obtain a second plurality of terminalvoltages and a second plurality of electronic currents of therechargeable battery; a curve creation module operable to create a firstlifecycle curve based on the first terminal voltages and the firstrechargeable currents, and create a second lifecycle curve based on thesecond terminal voltages and the second rechargeable currents; alifecycle estimation module operable to compare the first lifecyclecurve with a predetermined charge lifecycle curve, and compare thesecond lifecycle curve with a predetermined discharge lifecycle curve;and a report module operable to generate a lifecycle estimation reportof the rechargeable battery according to the comparison results, anddisplay the lifecycle estimation report on a display screen of thecomputing device.
 8. The computing device as described in claim 7,wherein the lifecycle estimation report indicates that the rechargeablebattery has a long lifecycle upon the condition that the first lifecyclecurve closely meets the charging lifecycle curve, and the secondlifecycle curve closely meets the discharging lifecycle curve.
 9. Thecomputing device as described in claim 7, wherein the lifecycleestimation report indicates that the rechargeable battery has a shortlifecycle upon the condition that the first lifecycle curve does notclosely meet the charging lifecycle curve, or the second lifecycle curvedoes not closely meet the discharging life curve.
 10. The computingdevice as described in claim 7, further comprising: a setting moduleoperable to set a first working parameter of the power supply inrelation to charging of the rechargeable battery, and set a secondworking parameter of the power supply in relation to discharging of therechargeable battery.
 11. The computing device as described in claim 10,wherein the first working parameter comprises a charge time, measurementtimes for measuring the terminal voltages and the rechargeable currentsof the rechargeable battery, a driving voltage, a driving impedance, anda protection current during the charging of the rechargeable battery.12. The computing device as described in claim 10, wherein the secondworking parameter comprises a discharge time, measurement times formeasuring the terminal voltages and the rechargeable currents of therechargeable battery, a load voltage, a load impedance, and a protectioncurrent during the discharging of the rechargeable battery.
 13. Anon-transitory storage medium having stored thereon instructions that,when executed by a processor of a computing device, causes the processorto perform a method for testing charging and discharging reliability ofa rechargeable battery, the method comprising: (a) controlling a powersupply to charge a rechargeable battery; (b) controlling a test deviceto measure terminal voltages and rechargeable currents of therechargeable battery when the rechargeable battery is charged, andobtaining a first plurality of terminal voltages and a first pluralityof rechargeable currents of the rechargeable battery; (c) controllingthe power supply to discharge the rechargeable battery; (d) controllingthe test device to measure terminal voltages and electronic currents ofthe rechargeable battery when the rechargeable battery is discharged,and obtaining a second plurality of terminal voltages and a secondplurality of electronic currents of the rechargeable battery; (e)creating a first lifecycle curve based on the first terminal voltagesand the first rechargeable currents, and creating a second lifecyclecurve based on the second terminal voltages and the second rechargeablecurrents; (f) comparing the first lifecycle curve with a predeterminedcharge lifecycle curve, and comparing the second lifecycle curve with apredetermined discharge lifecycle curve; and (g) generating a lifecycleestimation report of the rechargeable battery according to thecomparison results, and displaying the lifecycle estimation report on adisplay screen.
 14. The non-transitory storage medium as described inclaim 13, wherein the lifecycle estimation report indicates that therechargeable battery has a long lifecycle upon the condition that thefirst lifecycle curve closely meets the charging lifecycle curve, andthe second lifecycle curve closely meets the discharging lifecyclecurve.
 15. The non-transitory storage medium as described in claim 13,wherein the lifecycle estimation report indicates that the rechargeablebattery has a short lifecycle upon the condition that the firstlifecycle curve does not closely meet the charging lifecycle curve, orthe second lifecycle curve does not closely meet the discharging lifecurve.
 16. The non-transitory storage medium as described in claim 13,wherein the method further comprises: setting a first working parameterof the power supply in relation to charging of the rechargeable battery;and setting a second working parameter of the power supply in relationto discharging of the rechargeable battery.
 17. The non-transitorystorage medium as described in claim 16, wherein the first workingparameter comprises a charge time, measurement times for measuring theterminal voltages and the rechargeable currents of the rechargeablebattery, a driving voltage, a driving impedance, and a protectioncurrent during the charging of the rechargeable battery.
 18. Thenon-transitory storage medium as described in claim 16, wherein thesecond working parameter comprises a discharge time, measurement timesfor measuring the terminal voltages and the rechargeable currents of therechargeable battery, a load voltage, a load impedance, and a protectioncurrent during the discharging of the rechargeable battery.